Brits Abroad

[kingwilly]

An estimated 5.5m British people live permanently abroad – almost one in 10 of the UK population. The emigration of British people has happened in cycles over 200 years. The trend is now rising again: some 2,000 British citizens moved permanently away from the UK every week in 2005.

This unique project aims to explain where people have gone. On the regional and country pages you will find data on what we know about that part of the world. For more on the methodology and the key issues about emigration, click on the links at the bottom of these pages.

BRITS ABROAD: THE TOP COUNTRIES
Country name Resident Britons
Australia 1,300,000
Spain 761,000
United States 678,000
Canada 603,000
Ireland 291,000
New Zealand 215,000
South Africa 212,000
France 200,000


NUMBERS OF BRITONS IN THAILAND*
Total
41,000


NUMBERS OF BRITONS IN SINGAPORE*
Total
45,000

*figures are estimates only. See link below for more information.
BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Brits Abroad

[sabang]

I wonder if I still get counted as a Briton? If so, where am I counted- Oz, HK, or LoS? Or maybe, all three?

[Pragmatic]

An estimated 5.5m British people live permanently abroad

What's the definition of 'permanently' in when living in a country, such as Thailand, where there really isn't such a thing as 'permanently' resident?

[Chittychangchang]

Australia is the new Spain now for a slightly better class of Brit

The visa points system in Oz and the sheer distance and cost of relocation makes it achievable by only professional/skilled Brits mostly with family's.

The Brit OAPs traditionally retired to Spain but due to many horror stories of land grab etc they are favouring Kiwi land now.

45,000 Brits in Singapore, that's a lot of accountants.

Brits in Thailand is a hard number to calculate due to visa running, off shore working etc.

Are these the numbers of Brits registered at Brit embassy's?

[Horatio Hornblower]

My sister works for a shipping company in UK, she tells me the numbers of Brits leaving the UK is astounding.

Be interesting to know the number of Irish leaving there country.

[terry57]

^

Can't blame them though Eh.

What a foooking shit hole it is.

Thegent and Tax love it, but they live in Thailand.

Fokin joke innit.

[Boon Mee]

More Americans are bailing out too but closer to home like to Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico.

Taxes are killing them.

[Horatio Hornblower]

Maybe we need to make the UK a prison colony throw all the scum shit bags back there.

Possibly make it a refugee holding centre

^

Can't blame them though Eh.

What a foooking shit hole it is.

Thegent and Tax love it, but they live in Thailand.

Fokin joke innit.

[Passing Through]

Fair enough leaving Britain and moving to France or Spain or even the States but

Australia 1,300,000

What the fuck could possibly be wrong with so many people?

[Horatio Hornblower]

Possibly the good outdoor life, and no nonsense bull shit.

[Pragmatic]

^^People are too scared to move to a country where they don't speak English.

[Horatio Hornblower]

^ How many Brits speak Thai.?

[kingwilly]

An estimated 5.5m British people live permanently abroad

What's the definition of 'permanently' in when living in a country, such as Thailand, where there really isn't such a thing as 'permanently' resident?

Good question. I was permanently based in Thailand until I left.

Vs a summer in UK and Thailand in winter fella. Apparently that lot make up around 10,000 more Brits I Thailand.

[terry57]

Fair enough leaving Britain and moving to France or Spain or even the States but

Australia 1,300,000

What the fuck could possibly be wrong with so many people?

Mate us Aussies have been asking that very question for ever. We let the fukers come over for 10 Quid and now they must pay full fare the throttlers are still streaming in.

So you are right,

What is up with those chip eating, non soap using bastards. ?

[ltnt]

White flight and lack of jobs in the UK or EU.

[Passing Through]

no nonsense bull shit.

You mean they are attracted to no-nonsense bullshit rather than the more duplicitous type of bullshit found on the continent? Perhaps.

[terry57]

You are A Pom anyway Willy and always will be one.

[VocalNeal]

The stunning thing is that 678,000 moved to the US. What the faack for. Lower taxes? No. OK Chinese stuff maybe cheaper but education, health care...

It's Hollywood I tell ya!

[terry57]

Can you Pommy tossers please leave all your socks at home when entering Australia.

Ta.

[Horatio Hornblower]

Terry you never let them come over,you needed them.

And then you had howard and keating open the flood gates to Asia, and now you want your colonial brothers back now.

Fair enough leaving Britain and moving to France or Spain or even the States but

Australia 1,300,000

What the fuck could possibly be wrong with so many people?

Mate us Aussies have been asking that very question for ever. We let the fukers come over for 10 Quid and now they must pay full fare the throttlers are still streaming in.

So you are right,

What is up with those chip eating, non soap using bastards. ?

[Passing Through]

^ How many Brits speak Thai.?

Surely a more germane question is how many Australians speak English.

[terry57]

^ ^

I don't mind the Asians coming into Australia simply because the woman are usually smoking fookin hot.

On the other Hand those fat horrible Pommy slappers certainly are not.

[Horatio Hornblower]

Just out of interest do the Aussie govt top up the Brit pensioners pensions.?

[kingwilly]

You are A Pom anyway Willy and always will be one.

Absolutely not.

[Boon Mee]

Can you Pommy tossers please leave all your socks at home when entering Australia.

Ta.

How 'bout their teeth?

Emigrate to OZ to get a better pair of chompers?